Android 2.2 Coming to HTC Evo 4G, Droid X, Nexus One

Sprint said its HTC Evo 4G will get the upgrade to Google's Android 2.2 operating system, following Verizon Wireless and Motorola's admittance that the new Droid X will get an over-the-air upgrade to Android 2.2 later this summer. Android 2.2 boasts significant speed improvements to CPU-bound code and Android Web browser, along with support for Microsoft Exchange and an Android Cloud to Device Messaging API.

Since Google unveiled Android 2.2 in May, owners of the 60 or so smartphones based on
Google's Android operating system have wondered when and if their device will
get the long-anticipated upgrade.
Some Google Nexus One owners
have been upgraded in the last month and now Sprint said its HTC Evo 4G will
get the upgrade, following Verizon Wireless and Motorola's admittance that the
new Droid X will get an over-the-air upgrade to Android 2.2 later this summer.

Sprint blasted out a note that it is finalizing the
software and expects to launch Android 2.2 soon.

"It will also be available as an upgrade on the
recently launched HTC EVO 4G. With the Android 2.2 upgrade, customers can
expect improvements to include the following benefits among others: updates to
user interface, improved EAS Support, improved Browser Performance including
Flash 10 Support, voice dialing over Bluetooth and application storage on
external memory," a spokesperson told eWEEK.
Android 2.2 will not be available for HTC Hero and
Samsung Moment, the spokesperson confirmed.
It's becoming increasingly clear
that Android 2.2 is being rolled out to high-end smartphones first. The Nexus
One, Droid X and Evo 4G are all top of their class, as far as Android devices,
launching with Android 2.1 support.

The light turned green for Android 2.2 to roll out on
these devices when Google released
Android 2.2 to open source June 23, concurrent with the launch of the Droid X.
Android 2.2 boasts significant speed improvements to
CPU-bound code and Android Web browser, along with support for Microsoft
Exchange and an Android Cloud to Device Messaging API, which provides a
mechanism servers can use to tell mobile applications to contact the server
directly to fetch application or user data.
The Droid X is
a snazzy new device from Motorola that is a multimedia workhorse of sorts,
sporting a 4.3-inch display, 720p video with HD capture and play back and
preinstalled mobile applications such as Blockbuster, Skype and Swype.
In many ways, it's like the
Evo 4G, but with a stronger battery that doesn't burn down as fast.
For anyone deciding between the Evo 4G and the Droid X, first
consider the network. Do you want to be on No. 1 Verizon or No. 3 Sprint?
Beyond that, the differences are largely in the phone designs, and both are
bound for the Android 2.2 upgrade that should make the devices hum even faster.
eWEEK will post a review of the Droid X soon.